Wolves played out a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest yesterday – and there was again no sign of Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Wanderers scored a late equaliser through Daniel Podence, after Brennan Johnson gave the hosts the lead.
It was a game that saw tempers flare once again, with Forest coach Alan Tate and his Wolves counterpart Pablo Sanz both getting dismissed from the dugout.
That followed a penalty appeal from Adama Traore.
There was also some controversy towards the end, with VAR looking at an incident involving Podence and Johnson. The allegation was that Podence spat towards Johnson. The FA has confirmed they are investigating.
In the end, Lopetegui was pleased to get a point, describing it as ‘not a bad thing’ given how the game panned out.
Given the performance, Wolves fans will just be glad to have avoided defeat.
Lopetegui’s team selection yesterday was certainly interesting.
Toti Gomes was given a start at left-back, and there was no sign of Ait-Nouri in the matchday squad for the second game running.
Hugo Bueno was back on the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Ait-Nouri did feature for Algeria over the international break.
There has been no word of any kind of injury for the 21-year-old.
Some Wolves fans are now starting to grow a little concerned about the £10 million star’s situation. The fact he was left out yesterday even with Jonny being suspended may well be ominous.
Rayan Ait-Nouri situation at Wolves is becoming a worry, as Lopetegui overlooks starlet again
When Jonny picked up his red card against Leeds United, many instantly presumed that it would be a chance for Ait-Nouri.
He simply had to be the natural replacement, if Bueno was still not fully fit.
The fact Lopetegui didn’t select him, and instead started Toti at left back, is potentially ominous.
For Lopetegui to completely overlook him and put Bueno on the bench instead of him is really interesting indeed.
Admittedly, he has been poor coming off the bench recently.
Ait-Nouri is an absolutely huge talent but right now he clearly isn’t doing it for Lopetegui, who is seemingly giving him the Daniel Podence treatment.
The starlet has been linked with an exit from Molineux over the past year or so. So it will be fascinating to see how the situation plays out with him.
The writing could well be on the wall for him, after two snubs in a row from the manager.